By checking this box, I certify that this is my email and confirm that I want to subscribe to the weekly newsletter

Please check this box in order to subscribe

+ Get this BONUS — free!

The Windows 7 Guide, Volume 3: Advanced maintenance and troubleshooting provides advanced tools for keeping Microsoft's premier operating system up and running smoothly. Get this excerpt and other 4 bonuses if you subscribe FREE now!

Our latest articles...

After a nearly two-month hiatus, Microsoft has finally released a new Windows 10 Technical Preview build. You might run into a few hurdles when installing build 10041, but the changes and new features are worth the effort.

Recent top stories

Microsoft has spent a great deal of time and money trying to convince developers and customers that “Universal” (formerly “Modern,” formerly “Metro”) apps will drive the future of Windows. This is the third time we’ve heard variants of the same spiel, but it (finally!) just might work.

Sooner or later, you’ll need to repair, refresh, or reinstall Windows — a task that will require your original Windows installation/setup files. But most new PCs no longer come with classic Windows setup discs; the vital recovery files are typically stored on the hard drive — where they are vulnerable to loss or damage.

There are many reasons an Internet connection will become noticeably slower — including not getting the bandwidth you’re paying for. Internet speed-testing services might help reveal whether your ISP is at fault, but only if you understand how they work.

While there’s been a lot of discussion about Windows 10 Technical Preview, there’s another Windows on a parallel development track — Windows 10 Technical Preview for phones. Its similarities with Windows 10 for PCs might make you reconsider which phone you get next — or maybe not.

Linux might not have found a comfortable home on the desktop, but for backend services, it’s everywhere. Here’s a guide to Linux, showing why intermediate and advanced Windows users might want to take a look at this open-source operating system.

That old saying, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link,” has its Windows analogue: “A PC is only as fast as its slowest subsystem.” You can use Windows’ built-in performance-monitoring tools to detect which of your PC’s major subsystems could be causing slowdowns.

Trademarks: Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. The Windows Secrets series of books is published by Wiley Publishing Inc. The Windows Secrets Newsletter, WindowsSecrets.com, WinFind, Windows Gizmos, Security Baseline, Patch Watch, Perimeter Scan, Wacky Web Week, the Logo Design (W, S or road, and Star), and the slogan Everything Microsoft Forgot to Mention all are trademarks and service marks of iNET Interactive. All other marks are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.